Broncos QB Peyton Manning expects to return to practice on Thursday

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning sat out Wednesday’s practice because of an ankle injury, but he expects to return to the field today in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.

Manning, who suffered the ankle injury late in last Sunday’s win at San Diego, said he underwent treatment on Wednesday and has no doubt about being ready for Sunday’s nationally televised showdown for the AFC West lead.

The Chiefs and Broncos will meet twice in three weeks, and the Chiefs don’t expect it to get any easier in the Dec. 1 rematch at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Win or lose this game, it’s going to be even harder the second game,” said Chiefs inside linebacker Derrick Johnson. “That’s how it is in the NFL. When things work the first time, they probably won’t work when you come back and play them again.”

How big a game is it?

Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Broncos is the first in 44 years (and fifth in NFL history) between clubs with records of 9-0 and 8-1 or better.

The last such matchup was in 1969, when the 11-0 Los Angeles Rams lost 20-13 to the 10-1 Minnesota Vikings, who played in the Super Bowl later that season. Two weeks earlier, the 9-0 Rams edged the 8-1 Dallas Cowboys 24-23.

Read Next

Less than three weeks before the trial of a priest charged with sexually abusing a child is set to begin, victims’ advocates reveal the names of three more accused priests who at one time have served in the KC area.